Don't Shoot Bats

The petition was closed on 10th April AEST, and presented as a printed document to the Qld Government with a covering letter.

The eventual response from Minister McVeigh's office was sent to us on 17 September and said: "I refer to your email and petition.

"In relation to animal welfare, the Queensland Government is committed to ensuring that all animals in Queensland have appropriate standards of welfare. The Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (ACPA) is one of the world's most advanced pieces of animal welfare legislation and it affords high levels of care and protection to all animals in Queensland

"The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has been working with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) to ensure that the animal welfare impacts will be taken into consideration in the control and relocation of flying foxes.

"I note the many comments made in the petition and I have passed these on to DAFF officers involved in liaising with DEHP officers for their information."

THIS RESPONSE is disingenuous because it talks about the protection offered by the ACPA, but ignores the fact that the act under which the permits (to shoot flying foxes) are issued is EXEMPT from the conditions of the ACPA.

You can visit us at dontshootbats.com or look for "Dont Shoot Bats" on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest developments.

The Liberal National Party of Qld says they will re-introduce lethal methods of crop protection. The shooting and electrocution of flying-foxes (to prevent crop damage) was outlawed in Queensland as it was proven to be inhumane, and largely ineffective.

Tens of thousands of animals were killed using methods that often left them to die excruciatingly painful deaths. It sometimes takes days for these Australian native animals to die from their injuries.

The bats killed include large numbers of Grey-headed and Spectacled Flying-foxes. Both are listed as threatened species.

All the facts, research and contact details are provided at www.dontshootbats.com.

Allowing these methods sanctions animal cruelty. Please send the LNP of Qld a message that you abhor animal cruelty, and demand that they commit to supporting only humane methods of crop protection.

We, the undersigned, call on all Queensland political parties to commit to protecting native flying-foxes from threats to their conservation and welfare. There is no excuse for committing, allowing or encouraging cruelty to animals or for killing threatened species. We call on each political party to commit to the following: